Dispensing container



Sept. 29, 1936. R HENDERSON 2,056,102

' DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed June 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Sept. 29,1936 v R HENDERSON 2,056,102

' DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed June 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedSept. 29, 1936 UNITED. STATES,

PATENT .QFFICE} DISPENSING oou'mmnn Robert Henderson, Philadelphia, Pa.Application June 16.1936, Serial No. 85,572

10 Claims. (01121-144) This invention relates to dispensing containers;and has for an important object thereof the provision of a containercapable of dispensing. bulk materials of widely varying.characteristics. Many materials of the same general. type and utilized;in. the same fashion varyin different species to such anextent astorequiredispensing containers having different sized openings as, forexample, p powder and soap flakes, and itiis the: purpose of thisinvention toprovide. in asinglecontainer a structure such that either ofthese materials, or materials having the samegeneral characteristics,can be dispensedwith equal fa cility. 1

1 5' A more specific object of the invention the provision of ahopper-typecontainer having: con trolling gate mechanism of the pivotaltype which 1 is so constructed that a variable sized dispensing openingmay be provided.

20 A further object of the invention is the production of a structure ofthis character which may be readily and cheaply produced and will bedurable and eflicient in service. 7

These and other objects I attain by the con- 2 struction shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein, r I

. Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a dispensing con.- tainer constructedin accordance with my invention; g

30 Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view therethrcugh showing the gateoperated to provide a relatively small opening such as would be employedwhen using powdered soap;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing 35 the gate operated toprovide a large opening;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on line5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on line G--6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a section online 1-1 of Fig. 3.

40 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral Illgenerally designates a casing having arranged therein a hopper H, andhaving at its lower end a suitable discharge mouth l2 spaced from thehopper. Extending 45 across the casing adjacent one side of the hoppermouth is a shaft [3 at present shown as having one end thereof mountedin a bracket l4, and the opposite end thereof extended through theopposite wall of the casing and provided with 50 a handle l5. Secured tothe shaft is a gate l6 which is of a size such that it will close only aportion of the hopper mouth. A spring I! constantly tends to rotate theshaft in a direction maintaining this gate in its closed position, this55 spring being at present shown as coiled about the shaft I 3 with oneend' thereof engaged with bracket M and the opposite end thereof securedto gate l6. As a convenient method ofproviding the upper surface of thisgate: with an agitator, the. extremity l 'la of the spring is bent at 5right angles and extendedthrough the gate.

A. second gate Idisrotatably mounted upon the shaft and. is providedwith. a sleeve-like extension |'9. having at its end a projecting lug20. Abutting the end of. this. sleeve and surrounding 10'- shaft I3 is awedge piece 2| which abuts a wedge cam 22 slida'bl'e against theadjacent sidewall of the casing and slotted for the passage of shaft I13as at 23.. This wedge cam has an angular extension 24 projecting througha bayonet slot 25 formed in the casing wall above the handie: lever I 5.When this wedge cam is in its elevated position a flange 26 formedthereon isdisposed in the path of lug and prevents the sleeve, andaccordingly the gate I18, from rotating. When, however, this cam is inits lowered position, this lug'clears the flange and the gate [8 mayrotate.

I The sleeve, and? accordingly the wedge piece 21, are constantlyurged-toward this: wedge cam bya'spring 21 surrounding the shaft [3'-between the gates, and it: will be obvious that movement of the wedgecam 221fromraised to lowered positioruor vice versa, will causelongitudinal movement. of the: sleeve and gate-1 8. Gate H3 at all timessl-ightly overlaps gate I 6, and When it is shifted to the left bydepression of cam 22, the marginal edge thereof engages beneath thelatch piece 28 secured to gate I6. It will be obvious that with the campiece in the elevated position, rotation of shaft [3 will merely causeoperation of gate [6, gate l8 being held in its elevated position byengagement of the lug 20 with flange 26. When the cam piece isdepressed, the two gates are locked to one another and rotation of shafti3 will cause both gates to be opened. Gate 18 is preferably providedwith an agitator member 29, as illustrated.

Since the construction above described is capable of considerablemodification without in any manner departing from'the spirit of myinvention, I do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself theretoexcept as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a hopper, a pair of pivoted gates each partiallycontrolling the mouth of the hopper, means to independently open one ofsaid gates, and means to connect the gates for simultaneous opening.

2. In combination with a hopper, a pair of 3. In combination with ahopper, a gate to partially close the hopper mouth, a rotatable shaft towhich said gate is secured, means normally maintaining said shaft in aposition wherethe gate partially closes the hopper mouth, a second gatefor completing the closureo f the hopper mouth and rotatably mounted onsaid shaft, means to hold said gate against rotation and in a positionto close the hopper mouth, and means to release the holding means and toconnect said second gate to the first-named gate for rotation therewith.

4. In combination with a hopper, a pair of pivoted gates each partiallycontrolling the mouth of the hopper, means to independently open one ofsaid gates, means to hold the other gate closed during independentopening of the first-named gate, and means to connect the gates forsimultaneous opening and .to release said holding means.

5. In combination with a hopper, a pair of gates controlling the mouthof the hopper and pivotal about a common axis, means to independentlymove one of the gates from closed to open position, the other of saidgates being shiftable in the general direction of its axis to either oftwo selected positions, means connecting the gates for simultaneousmovement when said shiftable gateis in one, of said positions, and meansholding the shiftable gate against rotation about its pivot when said,shiftable gate is in the other of said positions- 6. In combination witha hopper, a pair of gates controlling the mouth of the hopper andpivotal about a common axis, means to independently move one of thegates from closed to open position, the other of said gates beingshiftable in the general direction of its axis to either of two selectedpositions, means connecting the gates for simultaneous movement whensaid shiftable gate is in one of said positions, and means holding theshiftable gate against rotation about its pivot when said shiftable gateis in the other of said positions, adjacent edges of said gates being inpermanently overlapped relation and one of said gates including a catchto engageover the edge of the other thereof when the shiftable gate ismoved to the first-named position.

7. Incombination with a hopper, a gate to partially close the hoppermouth, a rotatable shaft to which said gate is secured, means normallymaintaining said shaft in a position Where the gate partially closes thehopper mouth, a second gate for completing the closure of the hoppermouth and rotatably and longitudinally shiftable on said shaft, a latchoperatively connecting said shiftable gate to the shaft when in onelongitudinally adjusted position on the shaft and means to hold saidgate against rotation and in a positionv to close the hopper mouth whenin the secondposition on said shaft.

, 8. In combination with a hopper, a gate to partiallyclose the hoppermouth, a rotatable shaft to which said gate is secured, means normallymaintaining said shaft in a position where the gate partially closes thehopper mouth, a second gate for completing the closure of the hoppermouth and rotatably and longitudinally shiftable on said shaft, a latchoperatively connecting said shiftable gate to the shaft when in onelongitudinally. adjusted position on the shaft, means to hold said gateagainst rotation and in a position to close the hopper mouth when in thesecond position on saidshaft, a spring urging said shiftable gate to thelast-named position and a cam to move said shiftable gate to thefirst-named position against the action of said spring.

9. In combination with a hopper, a pair of gates each partiallycontrolling the mouth of the hopper, means to independently open one ofsaid gates, and means to connect the gates f0 simultaneous opening;

10.. In combination with a hopper, a pair of gates each partiallycontrolling the mouth of the hopper, means to independently open one ofsaid gates, means to hold the other gate closedduring independentopening of the first-named gate, and means to connect the gates forsimultaneous opening and'to release said holding means.

7 ROBERT HENDERSON.

